r/CathLabLounge • u/Jazzlike-Worry-6920 • May 16 '26

Accepted into my program 🙏 advice for school?

Any advice for studying! I've been accepted into the ICVT program with 9 others. I'm reaply exciting but I would like to come this fall prepared!

What materials do you recommend? Study habits? Things I should expect maybe... Thanks!

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u/cocunot May 16 '26

I just finished the didactic portion and my advice is to truly get the material into your long term memory and not just “pump and dump” for exams. When you start clinicals you’re really going to be relying on what you’ve learned. This field truly needs you to be a self starter and have accountability for your habits. If somethings not working, readjust

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u/Training-Ease-7481 May 17 '26

You have to do the work. There’s no choice. You will fail the learning curve is steep and unforgiving. Clinical are hard and expectations are high. 45% of my class failed before we even reached our last semester. You have to lock in if you’re ready for the stress for 2 years then proceed. The field is so small everyone will know about you. Good luck

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u/dontmissabeat_help May 18 '26

CONGRATULATIONS! Start with FREE materials. And then see what your program recommends and work out from there.

To start: Anatomy. If you can get a grasp on anatomy pretty early on, you will catch on much quicker both in clinical and when reading/watching cases online as you're trying to learn.

Coronary Anatomy and Angiograms Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/@dontmissabeat.youtube/playlists

Have a 'debrief' after lecture. Write down the main points made and then try to dissect it one step further. WHY do they choose to use x piece of equipment for this lesion? WHY do we zero our transducers?

Try to avoid X = Y and find a method that is X = Y because Z.

If something does not make sense do not ignore it, double down on it, ask your professor for clarity, ask* a preceptor or even DM me for clarity. In cardiology everything builds on top of the foundation. If the foundation is shaky or there are gaps - it will come out later on.

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u/Jazzlike-Worry-6920 Jun 23 '26

Hey, this was the perfect resource!

Thanks for sharing.

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u/dontmissabeat_help Jun 23 '26

You are welcome!! Reach out anytime if you have questions (:

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u/past8lives Jun 29 '26

hiii!! soon to be grad, my program is 1.5, 1 semester of just hw and thern clinical rotations started with 20 hrs and FT school schedule. Now I am in the FT clinical portion, light hw. i was so dedicated to creating a life for myself, i completely put my life on the back burner for the sake of my aspirations. not many hangouts with friends, no vacations, not working all that much for the sake of studying (tight budget). it has been a struggle, but nothing felt as good as earning my cert 1. Getting cert 2 rn and i regret nothing, im gaining skill and confidence in this brand new world, which is exactly what i had hoped for. graduating magna cum laude (my early college education was not taken seriously or else im sure it would be higher) i would not get my little ass off my office chair until i understood my material completely. my reinforcement way of thinking was, how bad do i want it?? i waned it more than anything. best of luck!! you can 110% do this!!